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Ex-prez Patil told she may avail fuel allowance or official car, not both

Last Updated 28 July 2015, 19:42 IST
A request from former President Pratibha Patil has put the government officials in a bind. If they oblige her, they will be bending the rules, and if they don’t, they will have a tough time convincing her.

Patil's office wants clearance from the Centre for using her personal car in her hometown Pune while the government foots the fuel bill and provides an official vehicle for travel out of town. This dual facility, officials said, is not permissible as former Presidents cannot avail  official car as well as fuel allowance. After a series of correspondence with her office over the past three months, Union Home Ministry officials have now asked her to decide on opting for an official car for her use or fuel allowance and not demand both.

All started with the withdrawal of the first official vehicle allotted to her as she did not like it. She demanded a bigger vehicle and as it was not allowed, she opted for fuel allowance. Her office then started using her personal car and while she was travelling outside Pune, the district administration provided her the vehicle. Now, sources said, the Maharashtra government objected to her demand for official car and took up the matter with Union Home Ministry.

Following this, Patil’s Secretary G K Das wrote to Home Ministry seeking its intervention. A string of letters followed.

Das recently wrote to Home Ministry, "When the former President travels by road to Mumbai and long distances, the District Collector, Pune is providing government vehicles at present. It is requested that this practice may kindly be continued in future also."

He said the General Administration Department of  the Maharashtra government told Patil's office that they will issue instructions in accordance with the Centre's orders. He wanted the Ministry to incorporate the provision of allowing government vehicles apart from fuel allowance in its letter to the Maharashtra government.

While Das did not respond, a senior Home Ministry official said they could not provide the dual facility as the rules governing former President's emoluments clearly state that an ex-President should be provided official car or fuel allowance.
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(Published 28 July 2015, 19:42 IST)

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